00:00Do you prefer to be called Jumbo or Shrimp?
00:06As we all know, there's been a lot of chatter recently about the Expendables franchise possibly
00:11making a comeback, especially after one of the original stars who didn't appear in the 2023
00:17sequel started hinting that things might not be over just yet. And honestly, it's kind of
00:23interesting to think about, because even though the last movie didn't exactly hit the mark,
00:27there's still a bunch of potential left in this series if it decides to go in a bold new direction.
00:32But at the same time, if The Expendables 5 really wants to work, it might have to do something the
00:38franchise has always avoided, and that's breaking one of Sylvester Stallone's biggest storytelling
00:43rules. So let's get into it and talk about everything we know so far, along with what
00:48could actually make the next movie worth watching. The talks really picked up when Terry Crews,
00:54who played Hail Caesar in the earlier films, talked about possibly coming back. He mentioned that
00:59he had a meeting with Lionsgate not too long ago, and they were already discussing ideas for the
01:04future of the franchise. And it wasn't just about another movie either, because they were also
01:09throwing around ideas like TV shows, spin-offs, and a bunch of other content. That alone shows that
01:15the studio hasn't given up on the brand, even though the last film struggled both critically and
01:20commercially. It kind of makes sense, because studios these days love building entire universes
01:26rather than just sticking to standalone films.
01:29Crews also brought up something that's pretty relevant in today's entertainment world, which is the
01:34idea that nostalgia is basically ruling everything right now. People love going back to familiar
01:40characters and worlds, because it feels comforting and exciting at the same time. And he seemed totally
01:45on board with that idea, saying that sometimes you have to go back in order to move forward.
01:50That mindset actually fits perfectly with The Expendables, because the whole franchise was built
01:56on bringing together old-school action stars and giving fans something that felt both classic and fresh.
02:02Even though they didn't fully know what they were creating at the beginning,
02:06it ended up becoming a global hit, and that's something you can't ignore.
02:10He also compared the franchise to the Rocky and Creed series, pointing out that if those stories can
02:16keep going with new chapters, then there's no reason The Expendables can't do the same. And honestly,
02:22that's a fair point, because even though the formula might feel a bit outdated now,
02:26there's still room to evolve it. Plus, his character Hale Caesar never actually died,
02:31so bringing him back wouldn't be complicated at all. It would just be a matter of writing him into the
02:36story in a way that feels natural. At the same time, there's been a big development behind the
02:42scenes, because Lionsgate recently secured the rights to The Expendables along with a Rambo prequel
02:47project. Now that's a huge move, because it gives them full control over where the franchise goes next.
02:54And even though The Expendables 5 hasn't been officially confirmed yet, this kind of deal usually
02:59means that something is definitely being planned. Studios don't spend money on rights like that unless
03:05they have a clear vision for the future. But here's the thing, the last movie really didn't
03:10help the franchise's reputation. It made only about $51 million worldwide against a budget that
03:16was reportedly around $100 million, which is not a good sign at all. On top of that, critics and
03:22audiences didn't respond well to it either, with many saying it lacked originality and the fun energy
03:28that made the earlier films enjoyable. So even though the franchise as a whole has made a lot of money
03:33over
03:34the years, the most recent entry made it clear that something needs to change.
03:38One of the more interesting ideas being discussed is that The Expendables 5 might need a complete
03:44reset. And by that, it doesn't necessarily mean a full reboot with no connection to the past,
03:50because that's not very common in today's franchise-driven industry. But it could mean
03:55bringing in a new team while moving slowly away from the original cast. Although that sounds risky,
04:01it might actually be the best way to keep things fresh while still respecting what came before.
04:06And this is where things get really important, because the franchise has always avoided killing
04:12off its main characters. Since the first movie came out, most of the team members have managed to
04:17survive every mission, even though they're constantly facing impossible odds. The only major exception was
04:23Liam Hemsworth's character, Billy the Kid, who actually died in one of the films. But aside from that,
04:29the series has been very hesitant to take that kind of risk. Interestingly, some characters were
04:35originally supposed to die in earlier movies, like Gunner or Hail Caesar, but those decisions were
04:41changed at the last minute. And while that might have made sense at the time, it's also one of the
04:47reasons the franchise started to feel a bit predictable. Because when you know that everyone is going to make
04:52it out alive, it removes a lot of the tension. Even though the action is still entertaining,
04:57it doesn't feel as dangerous as it should. Sylvester Stallone himself has explained why he avoids
05:04killing main characters. He believes that audiences don't enjoy seeing their heroes die because it can
05:10leave them feeling disappointed or even upset. And that perspective actually comes from his experience
05:16on an older film where his character was killed off in the ending, which he didn't agree with. Since then,
05:22he's made it a point to keep his characters alive whenever possible, even in situations where it
05:28might have made sense for them to die. But while that approach is understandable, it might not work
05:33anymore, especially for a series like The Expendables. These characters are supposed to be aging soldiers
05:40who constantly put themselves in life-threatening situations. So, it feels unrealistic when they
05:46always walk away without serious consequences. After four movies, that pattern has become too obvious,
05:52and it's one of the reasons the stakes don't feel as high as they should. So, if The Expendables 5
05:59wants
05:59to stand out, it might need to take a bold step and actually let some of the original characters go.
06:05Not in a
06:06careless or shocking way, but in a way that adds emotional weight to the story. Because when the
06:12audience sees that anyone can be lost, it instantly makes every mission feel more intense. And at the
06:18same time, it would create space for new characters to step in and carry the franchise forward.
06:24Speaking of new characters, that's another area where the next movie could really improve.
06:29The fourth film already started shifting the focus toward Jason Statham's character,
06:34Lee Christmas, setting him up as a potential new leader. And while that's a solid direction, it might
06:40not be enough on its own. The franchise needs a fresh lineup that feels exciting and relevant,
06:45especially for newer audiences who might not have the same connection to the original cast.
06:50There have been ideas about bringing in actors like Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Gerard Butler, or even
06:57Dwayne Johnson, and while nothing is confirmed, that kind of casting could definitely give the series a new boost.
07:03Because at the end of the day, The Expendables has always been about assembling a dream team of action
07:08stars. And there's no reason that concept can't evolve with a new generation. At the same time,
07:15keeping at least one or two original members could help maintain a sense of continuity.
07:20Characters like Barney Ross or even Trench could return in smaller roles, maybe as mentors guiding the
07:25new team. That way, the movie wouldn't feel like a complete departure, but it would still move in a new
07:31direction. Although the odds might not be in its favor after the last movie, there's still a chance
07:36to turn things around if the creators are willing to take risks and try something different. Because
07:41we've seen other franchises come back from the brink before, and there's no reason this one can't do the
07:46same. So even though nothing is officially confirmed yet, the signs are definitely pointing toward another
07:52chapter. And if it happens, it's going to be really interesting to see whether they stick to the
07:57old formula or finally decide to break the rules that have been holding the series back for so long.
08:02And that's that for today's video.
08:03Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next one.
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